Tuesday, September 15, 2009

When The Pearl Diver Advises The Chef

It may be a cliche that all life's good stuff is either sinful or fattening. One more Twinkie or Goo-Goo Bar might not add to the ledger of things best left undone, but there are other seductive "Twinkies" and "Goo-Goo Bars" that will take a lot of sweating to pay for. For many of us the hour may be later than we would wish for getting God totally in charge of our lives. Mrs. Eddy tells us that we should attempt nothing without His help and that He should be permitted to guide our every thought and action. Maybe He could cut us a little slack and make it four or five out of seven?

Even our best intentions can find us driving from the back seat or conscientiously attempting to steady His uncertain hand on the steering wheel. The lives of many of us would be immeasurably more harmonious if we let Him do the directing and we do the following obediently, unhesitatingly, and humbly. He isn't just a co-pilot either. Either He is All and we are one with Him as His perfect reflection and idea or that is not the case. There is no Goldilocks "just right" middle ground, and fighting Him for the wheel will only lead to further misadventures.

If we decided to capture every thought we have during one day and present them to God for approval, what would the final tally be? If to avoid an overplus of embarrassment we whisked off the obvious clinkers to a closet, would we have a sobering rival to Fibber McGee's at day's end? We may know intellectually that the tiniest speck of error in thought or action can engender much to be repented of while we are at leisure, but still some of us order ourselves on like Admiral Farragut at Mobile Bay: "Damn the torpedoes! Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouette, full speed!" He avoided them. We may not.

There is only room in our lives for one Chef, and His name is God, not Miss Piggy's immodest "moi". Getting totally and unequivocally right with God may take some doing, but it's got to be done if we are to put the lies of aggressive mental suggestion behind us forever.

Note: The possessive of one is obviously not ones, but one's. I'd go back and correct these goofs, but there are probably at least two or three hundred of them. "Fap!", as Major Hoople used to say.

22 comments:

One of your CA fans said...

You are the best around, blogger. So full of life and originality. This one, one of your best, I think.
Great job!

Anonymous said...

The titles you come up with! I go back and forth with thinking, this blogger is a lawyer, then after reading this excellent piece, I think you teach creative writing.
In any event, a first-rate job of writing.

Northeast regular said...

I've been checking every day to see what you've got on your mind, and I was rewarded just now. So very good. Will read several more times.
Thanks so much, blogger.

With my appreciation said...

You do have the freshest way of presenting serious CS topics, and being such a pleasurable read can't help but cause the deeper thoughts to stay with your viewers.

Best from Florida said...

I know you have a higher reason for blogging than financial gain, but I almost think you could charge for your blog.
Expertly done!

L. R. said...

Love your website, and found this one particularly helpful. That thought that God must be all to us is most inspiring.
Keep up your good work for Christian Science.

Not far from Boston said...

I can see why my friend spoke so highly of your blog. It is so refreshing, just not the same old metaphysical statements we've grown up with. You do bring things to life, and I thank you.

God bless you said...

Such an intriguing title. Can't help but draw readers in, and what they get, in my view, is a finely written little essay.
I concur in your thesis that God must be in first place in all our thoughts and actions.

CS, Wisconsin said...

Though a serious discussion, can't help chuckling at some of the sentences, some of the unusual words you choose.
You really know your way around the English language!

Anonymous said...

I have a thought: why don't you collect your essays, put them into book form, and see if The Book Mark would carry it? I bet many would like to have your blog posts available this way.
Really enjoy your thinking and writing.

Helen said...

So grateful for the teachings of our religion which encourage us to rely on God for every need.
And I'm grateful for all you are giving, dear blogger.

E. J. said...

I agree with you, dear blogger. As we let our heavenly Father do the directing, how much smoother life would be. Being that He is all knowing and as our Way-shower says, knows what we need before we ask Him, then what blessings await us as we get in step with this everpresent Mind, God.
Thanks!

Greetings from Germany said...

What a boon you are to us out here who care deeply about Christian Science. Your continued efforts to inspire and inform,and stimulate greater thought and study is certainly appreciated I feel sure.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for passing along the fruits of your obvious devotion to the Bible and the teachings of CS. It is helping me, for one. And how many others I can just imagine.

Cambridge said...

Well done, writer of such ability. Getting in conformity to God's commands and guidance is vital, and I concur with you that it has to be done if we're to stay ahead of mortal mind's often aggressive assaults on us.

Dorothy said...

As I've commented before, definitely a thinking man's (and in my case, woman's) website.
Really get a lot from what you are sharing.

Washington, D.C. said...

I can never read your blog without thinking of something the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science states in her major work, "Science and Health with Key to the Scripturs" (preface): "The time for thinkers has come."
Words of Mary Baker Eddy

Good job you are doing.

Unnamed...for now said...

Yet another winner. You do craft such interesting and fresh blog posts.
Always a pleasure checking you out.

And God bless you, too said...

A wonderful little essay on letting God be in charge of our lives. How vital this is, and what rewards come to the one who will accomplish this high goal.
Thanks, thanks...

From the UK said...

I read this excellent blog post last evening, and have been thinking about it. I have to say many thanks for turning your readers' thinking toward our heavenly Father.
All the best to you,

With thanks from Phoenix, AZ said...

Dear Author of this Website,
A friend mentioned to me that I should check your blog and I'm so glad I did. Finding it most helpful to me in my efforts to dig more deeply into Christian Science.

Anonymous said...

This one Chef could have an "i" inserted to be Chief. Is not God really the "Decider-in-Chief" we should always be listening for and to? Better listening is the job at hand for all of us.